250. Yup; 250. And that’s how many reps for our abdominals we’re going to start doing. Keeping the main thing the main thing: I’m exercising 5-7 days a week. Keeping active on those off days.

Why 250? In the mid-80’s I was sure it was a good number of crunches/sit ups/ leg raises to get done during each session. I tried to come up with some reserarch on the subject, but there wasn’t. I just believed that we should gut through, and I did. My clients would look at me like I was nuts (or were they doing that anyway?). I wouldn’t argue. I’d just say that 250 was do-able, and they could do it all at once, or stop when they needed to. They would all take that as a direct challenge. Within a week of getting the assignment, they would all be doing them. Yes, some would take a break every 50 at first and some would have to keep making the exercises more difficult, but they would all do 250.

While at a coaching clinic with USA Triathlon in the early 2000’s a presenter hit us with 500. Yes, he had research (he said), but don’t make him dig it up. It just made good sense. We should all be doing 500, and so should our athletes. I’m OK with that…25 if you’re a health and fitness buff, 500 if you’re an athlete.

During the last decades I’ve been much less about “rolling around on the floor” and more about running around to get the work done. I still believe that things like medicine balls and big giant ropes and hauling stuff and climbing hills fast is the best way to get your mid-section to function properly. That said, I’m trying to get my 250 going again.

9/40 As often as possible in a workout…gym, home gym, bored watching TV and thinking about it…I will do my ab-crunches. In all honesty, I’m not going to lie down on Bayshore Blvd. and do then, and I probably won’t do them poolside. But I WILL be more aware of them times that I CAN do them, and try to get them in daily. Pre-yoga class? Between clients?

I can almost see my six-pack!

Basic Crunch

Start of the week…renewed after a glorious weekend…busy week ahead…started with a good breakfast each morning, sitting up straight as I type, balance move while waiting for oatmeal in the microwave (2:30 on one leg without falling). Lots of hours of work ahead, and I’m ready for it.

Regular or Oblique Crunch, legs up

Oblique Crunch

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About Lisa Jamison

I'm a trainer, coach, massage therapist, educator, yogi, and all around great gal, not necessarily in that order. I thrive on watching people move. Professionally I can help you do that with more grace, ease, and efficiency...which translates to "faster" and "without injuries". It's about eliminating the stresses on your body and teaching you a new way. Physically. Cognitively. Emotionally. Body, mind, and spirit.

1 Response to And the winning number is…

I’ll give that a go! I must say my 40/40/40/40 fell by the wayside– far too distracted with personal issues. But now that my roommate moved out, and my divorce is final after 20 months of being separated…I feellike I can start to focus on other things. Like my growing gut. What the heck? 250? I’ll get there. Just gotta start getting!